Alpine School District launched ASD OpenSciEd, a newly developed elementary science curriculum designed by district educators to inspire curiosity and make science engaging for young students. The program provides a comprehensive science program for students in kindergarten through sixth grade.
Developed by the district curriculum department and elementary science team, the curriculum combines lessons, hands-on investigations, assessments, and instructional supports. Sam Rencher, the Director of Curriculum at Alpine School District, stated that this is a major milestone because it provides elementary teachers with a comprehensive, standards-aligned science curriculum developed specifically for Utah students.
According to Rencher, the curriculum is grade-level appropriate and aligns with the Utah SEEd Standards. The program is designed to help students experience science through exploration, investigation, and discovery by engaging with real-world phenomena and gathering evidence.
The curriculum builds upon the OpenSciEd framework and includes district-created resources such as teacher manuals, student materials, pacing guides, academic vocabulary routines, assessments, and digital supports. Elementary Science Specialist Danielle Kennedy noted that the development process involved reviewing Utah science standards and learning expectations to meet the needs of Alpine teachers and students.
Teachers in the district expressed enthusiasm for the new curriculum. Ashley Hassell, a sixth-grade teacher at Forbes Elementary, noted that hands-on learning through experiments is crucial for student understanding and memory of the material.
